Who was Robin Hood? Throughout history the figures of the hooded man of Sherwood Forest and his band of outlaws have transfixed readers and viewers—but who was the real Robin Hood? The story grew out of the pagan legend of the "green man" but found its place during the reign of Richard I, the Lionheart, who was away from England fighting in the crusades, leaving his brother John to ransack the country. Nigel Cawthorne uncovers the origins and the many truths within the story. Set in a nation torn apart by oppression, the hooded man was a symbol of liberty in the face of tyranny, challenging the authority of the despotic Sheriff of Nottingham. Cawthorne also explores the historical aspects of the myth—the archer in British history, the allure of the outlaw, who Maid Marion represented, and why Robin Hood has remained a hero for over 500 years.